The Mother Of The Late Teen Who Inspired Pearl Jam’s Jeremy Has Spoken Out

“That day that he died did not define his life…”

Wanda Crane – the mother of Jeremy Delle, who died by suicide in 1991 and inspired Pearl Jam’s legendary song and video, Jeremy – has spoken out for the first time.

Jeremy, at the age of just 16, took his own life in front of his English class in Richardson, Texas, and consequently caused frontman Eddie Vedder to write their 1992 single after reading about the story in a newspaper article. Now, almost three decades after his passing, Jeremy’s mother Wanda has been interviewed by WFAA in a new video: “That day that he died did not define his life,” she said. “He was a son, a brother, a nephew, a cousin, a grandson. He was a friend. He was talented.”

Wanda then addressed the subject of school shootings, saying that she would think about the victims’ families, as well as their reputations. “I think of what will be said or what opinions will be thought about the student. But it’s the mothers and sisters that I want to wrap my arms around and tell them someday it’ll be better.”

Jeremy’s classmate Britanny King also spoke about the tragic event itself, as well as Pearl Jam’s track. “I was angry at them for writing that song,” she admitted. “I thought, ‘You don’t know. You weren’t there. That story’s not accurate.’”